Travel delay doesn’t dampen attitude of Camp Hope kids

A group of Russian children on their way to Iowa in hopes of finding a new home finally arrived Thursday after three days spent at the airport in Washington, D.C. with weather delays.

Camp Hope director Anne Nieland says the trip to the U.S. is an adventure in itself, and all the delay added to the experience.

Nieland says to get here and be hit with weather delays, the kids got a true American experience right off the bat. Nieland says the children will participate in a variety of activities throughout the week as part of Camp Hope, and this camp could literally change their lives.

She says this is another camp, but it just so happens with this camp they are hoping to find a forever family that they join to live in America forever. Though the visit got off to a rocky start with the flight delays, Nieland says the eight orphans from northwestern Russia have quickly adapted.

Nieland says when she saw the kids get off the plane Thursday she thought there was no way they’ve just been through five days of travel as they looked good and were ready to meet their host families. The local families will take care of the kids that range in age from seven to 13 throughout their stay.

Nieland says the families don’t necessarily have to adopt the kids, they can host the child and enjoy the child. She says that’s one way to give back to the community. If they do want to adopt the child, they start the process here and then go over to Russia and complete the process and bring the child home. In the past 11 years, Camp Hope has been directly responsible for finding homes for more than 180 older Russian orphans.